Max IV Idlers

[whipper-ag]

[wfo]

WTF, WHAT HAPPENED YOU BROKE YOURS.
you need to start upgrading all those old outdated parts WHIPPER.

[Noel Woods]

Yep, seen it before. Nothing like finding some ball bearings rolling around in the tub just before imminent failure.

[msafi65]

It surprises me that many of those made it a year. I still find them in use but rarely any good.

[akcrawler]

Are these the standard stock items for all Max IV's, or just certain years? Have many of the readers in this forum had to replace them due to bearing failure? I'm just trying to get a bead on possible failure modes so I can be ready.

[amphibious drew]

I don't know what year they stopped using them, but they are an older style that ri wasn't using anymore when they were sold.

[ARGOJIM]

They were in many of the 90's models, the later cast ones were much better if the bearing stayed in place.

[Normable1973]

I have a 94ish max4 and it came with them, one got destroyed at Busco last month.. Luckily Drew came stocked and hooked me up with a new one(thanks again Drew). Norm

[tonyk72]

Are sprocket type idlers the way to go on a Max IV or are there better solutions? I've read a few other posts about using delrin rollers, skateboard wheels and other various chain tensioners. Do the plastic type rollers provide less friction? Do they wear faster? What are the pros and cons?

[Noel Woods]

I think a quality plastic will be longer wearing than a metal sprocket adjuster. Less friction means less time adjusting the chain. I have two types of UHMW that I've been experimenting with. One is the skateboard wheel that adjusts chain on an 80+ horsepower engine. Very little wear and tear so far.

The other type of adjuster is a semi-floating / in both a manual and partially self adjusting mechanism. I have these on a Max4 with a 25 hp engine. The self adjusting version still has some bugs in it.

I don't have enough time on the prototypes to say this is the solution however. I think they do show promise though.

[jerseybigfoot]

a plastic roller works fine and if it seizes up from Busco mud it acts like a slider works well even for the rear trans adjusters. alignment corrections can be adjusted by changing the axle angle of the roller.

[tonyk72]

Where can I get some of these rollers?

I've been looking for some online, but am coming up short. A bigger version of these seems like it would work.

https://www.inventables.com/technologies/smooth-idler-wheel-kit#25197-02

Update - Still been looking...Skateboard wheels are expensive! I started looking at casters like this:

http://www.amazon.com/RWM-Casters-Polyolefin-Bearing-Capacity/dp/B0051QI04G/ref=pd_sim_sbs_indust_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0A371ZWVPN37S1BT1B57

or maybe this?

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-in-solid-polyurethane-na-caster-69851.html

[jerseybigfoot]

Plastic from McMaster
McMaster-Carr
Drilled center for 3/4 od ss tube to act as a journal.